Thirty-eight of those injured were brought by rescuers to the Jane County Hospital while six were taken to the St. Anne Hospital in Lucena City, Pasno said in a report sent to the Quezon Provincial Police Office.

Among the injured were at least seven minors, including a four-month-old boy who was travelling with his mother, according to the report.

Bus driver Gregorio Banaag, 32, was also brought to the hospital but was eventually discharged and is now detained at the Pagbilao Police Station.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. along the old Zigzag Road in Sitio Amao, Brgy. Silangang Malicboy, which local authorities had already declared “closed” to big vehicles due to frequent accidents.

Banaag was driving the AB Liner bus (DXL-333) from Calauag to Muntinlupa City when the vehicle’s brakes allegedly malfunctioned, Pasno said.

Local traffic enforcers have always been reminding and warning motorists that there is a local ordinance prohibiting vehicles with six wheels or more from using the old Zigzag Road but drivers continue to violate it, he added. (John Roson)